Mavs Beat Kings 120-106: Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson Lead Dallas Play-in Victory

Mavericks Eliminate Kings 120-106 in Play-in Behind Davis and Thompson

SACRAMENTO – Anthony Davis scored 27 points, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a decisive 120-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Western Conference play-in tournament on Wednesday night, eliminating Sacramento from playoff contention.

The Mavericks controlled the game from start to finish at the Golden 1 Center, establishing a commanding 23-point lead by halftime and effectively stifling any significant comeback attempts from the Kings.

With this win, Dallas advances to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday in the final Western Conference play-in game. The victor of that matchup will secure the coveted No. 8 seed and a first-round playoff series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Davis, in just his tenth game with the Mavericks since his trade from the Los Angeles Lakers, also contributed nine rebounds and three blocks. Klay Thompson provided a crucial offensive spark with 23 points on efficient 8-of-11 shooting, including a sharp 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. This performance was a significant turnaround from his scoreless outing in the previous year’s play-in game against the same Kings while playing for Golden State.

P.J. Washington and Brandon Williams each added 17 points for Dallas, with Dante Exum chipping in 11. The Mavericks displayed strong offensive efficiency, shooting 49.4 percent from the field and connecting on 14 of their 28 three-point attempts.

DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 33 points and seven rebounds. Zach LaVine scored 20 points and dished out nine assists, while Domantas Sabonis recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, along with five assists. Devin Carter provided 10 points off the bench. However, Sacramento struggled with 18 turnovers and shot 46.1 percent from the field.

The Kings fell behind significantly after a dominant 44-point second quarter by Dallas, which included a pivotal 24-10 run highlighted by four consecutive three-pointers from Thompson. Davis punctuated the first half with back-to-back three-pointers, giving Dallas a comfortable 71-48 lead.

Davis opened the third quarter with another three-pointer, extending the Mavericks’ lead to 26. Although the Kings responded with a 10-0 run, Dallas quickly regained control and entered the final quarter with a 99-81 advantage.

With just under seven minutes remaining in the game, consecutive baskets by Davis pushed the Mavericks’ lead to 107-85, effectively sealing the victory and bringing the Sacramento Kings’ season to an end.